What’s Happening
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is preparing to expand the information that Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers must provide when completing the ESTA application. According to a proposed notice that will appear in the Federal Register tomorrow, December 10, 2025, applicants would need to supply social media identifiers covering the past five years along with additional personal and family history that may extend back five to ten years. CBP also plans to transition ESTA filing to an updated mobile application, and a separate photograph may be required as part of the process.
Once published tomorrow, members of the public will have 60 days to submit comments. No changes take effect until the rule is finalized.
What You Need to Know
Expanded information requirements. CBP is proposing that VWP applicants provide additional personal and family information when completing the ESTA application. This includes social media identifiers from the last five years, phone numbers from the last five years, email addresses from the last ten years, and other high-value contacts. Applicants may also need to supply IP address information and photo metadata automatically captured during electronic submission.
Mandatory use of the official mobile app. CBP plans to require all new ESTA applications to be submitted through the official ESTA Mobile app. The current website would continue to provide program information and allow applicants to check their application status, but it would no longer accept submissions. Applicants without a smartphone can have a trusted third party, such as a family member or travel agent, submit their application through the app, provided a photo of the applicant is included.
Enhanced identity verification. The mobile app will use your ePassport’s electronic chip to read biographic data and passport photos, and it will compare this photo to a live selfie using facial recognition and liveness detection. Applicants should expect to provide a live selfie in addition to passport details.
Security-driven improvements. CBP’s move to the mobile app aims to address security concerns. Poor-quality photos uploaded through the website have sometimes bypassed facial recognition, and fraudulent third-party websites have charged high fees or failed to submit applications. The app’s chip verification, selfie checks, and other controls are designed to reduce fraud. Travelers should use only the official CBP app and avoid unofficial intermediaries.
Changes in country eligibility. Romania has been removed from the Visa Waiver Program, while Qatar has been added. Travelers should confirm their country’s current VWP status on DHS’s official list before applying.
Optional exit reporting for I-94 travelers. CBP is piloting a feature in the CBP Home app that allows travelers subject to I-94 requirements to self-report departures. Travelers submit passport information, a live selfie, and geolocation to confirm exits, which is particularly helpful for land border departures.
Application preparation. Completing the mobile ESTA application is expected to take approximately 22 minutes. Travelers should have their ePassport, smartphone, social media handles, and prior contact information ready.
Potential impacts on travelers. Once finalized, the new procedures may require more detailed information, additional screening, and longer processing times. Employers and travelers should plan ahead and begin organizing the information likely to be required.
Things to Keep in Mind
Proposed changes are not yet final. The proposed changes are outlined in a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication on December 10, 2025. A 60-day public comment period will follow, allowing travelers, employers, and other stakeholders to provide feedback. The requirements may be adjusted after the comment period ends.
Plan ahead for the mobile app. Travelers should ensure access to the official CBP ESTA app and be prepared for the identity verification process.
Confirm eligibility before applying. Check that your country remains in the Visa Waiver Program, as eligibility has recently changed.
Use only official channels. Avoid third-party websites offering ESTA submissions, as they may charge fees or fail to submit applications.